BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI

WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAMMES DIVISION

FIRST SEMESTER 2009-2010
COURSE HANDOUT

QMJ ZG629T Dissertation

(For students of M.S. Quality Management)

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: SUPERVISOR OF STUDENT CONCERNED

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES
Consistent with the students degree programme, professional background and workenvironment, the student will be required to carry out a significant research /
development project independently. The chosen topic of work should be non-trivial,
analytical, application-oriented and should involve substantial research and/or
development effort based on a specific theme. Students should choose only topics for
which the work done can be presented, demonstrated, and defended before a panel of
examiners at BITS, Pilani.
The student would be required to select an area of work that is preferably
considered vital to the employing organization. The student, in consultation
with his/her Supervisor, identifies the topic of the Dissertation and prepares
the detailed Dissertation outline.
The student carries on with the Dissertation adhering to the guidelines provided in the
course handout, submitting all the prescribed evaluation components on time. At the
end of the semester, the student should submit a comprehensive Dissertation Report to
the Institute for evaluation.
The student will be evaluated on the basis of the various interim evaluation
components, contents of the report and the final Seminar/Viva-Voce that will be
conducted at BITS, Pilani. The final grades for Dissertation are Non-Letter grades
namely Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor. Non-Letter grades do not go into CGPA
computation.
DISSERTATION EVALUATION SCHEDULE

S.
No

Evaluation Component

1.

Hard copy of Dissertation Outline document and

Outline Evaluation Sheet along with Registration
Card
Upload softcopy of Outline on BITS VU
Hard Copy Mid-Semester Evaluation Sheet with a
brief progress report.
Hard Bound copy of Final Dissertation Report and
Final Evaluation Sheet
Upload softcopy of Final Dissertation Report and
Final Presentation (in PDF format)

2.
3.
4.
5.

Scheduled Last Date

for the documents to
reach BITS, Pilani
Monday, July 20, 2009

August 03-10, 2009

Friday, August 28,2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009

Note : Requests for extension of deadlines for submission of documents or

evaluation sheets will not be entertained, irrespective of the reasons.

Page 1 of 15

Important Instructions
1.

Along with the Registration Card and fees draft, the student must submit the
Dissertation Outline document and the Dissertation Outline evaluation sheet. The
document must contain the following items:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Proposed topic of Dissertation

Area of Work
Background
Scope of work
Objectives
Plan of work
Literature references, and
Particulars of the Supervisor as well as one Additional Examiner (Name,
Qualification, Designation, Employing Organization, and contact information).

2.

The Mentor can be the Supervisor. The Supervisor will be the guide and main
examiner for the student. In case the Mentor is not the Supervisor, he/she must be
the Additional Examiner. The chosen Supervisor / Additional Examiner must have
qualification equivalent to that of the Mentor. The Supervisor and Examiner must be
two different individuals. The same person cannot act as both the Supervisor as well
as Examiner for the same student.

3.

Students who are currently enrolled in MS SS/MM/CM/QM or M.Phil HHSM cannot

be Supervisors/ Examiners/ Mentors for other BS/MS Students doing Project
Work/Dissertation.

4.

The Mid-Semester Evaluation will be based on Work Progress and achievement, and
the Mid-Semester Seminar/Viva. No mid-semester report required to submitted.

5.

The student should submit two copies of the word-processed, hardbound Final
Dissertation Report to the Supervisor, atleast two weeks before the deadline. The
Supervisor should evaluate the final report and conduct the final seminar and vivavoce for the student, alongwith the additional examiner. The Supervisor and the
Additional Examiner should jointly complete the final evaluation sheet and
recommend the final grade for the Dissertation.

6.

One hard bound copy of the final report along with the final evaluation sheet (after
the Report/Seminar/Viva evaluation by the Supervisor and Additional Examiner)
should reach the Dean, DLPD, BITS Pilani 333 031 (Rajasthan) by Speed
Post so as to reach us latest by October 23, 2009.

7.

We do understand that all BITS DLP students are employed professionals with their
own professional and personal constraints. We expect all students to coordinate with
their Supervisor and Examiner and submit all documents and evaluation sheets as
per schedule given in the handout.

8.

The students must submit the Outline, Mid-Semester Progress Evaluation Sheet and
Final Report in the specified format by the specified deadlines, even if the evaluation
by the Supervisor/Examiner is not available by the deadline. The evaluation sheets
duly signed by the Supervisor and Examiner can be submitted separately within two
weeks from the specified deadlines or brought in person when the student comes to
Pilani for Viva.

9.

Requests for extension of deadlines for submission of documents or

evaluation sheets will not be entertained irrespective of the reasons.
Page 2 of 15

10. The Cover Page, Title Page, Abstract and the Certificate from the Supervisor must
be prepared in the same format (with appropriate page fonts and layout) as given in
annexures to this course handout.
11. The report should be properly organized and neatly formatted with all the elements
required for a technical report. It should be adequately descriptive and elaborate
and should be self-contained with respect to the chosen topic. Each chapter should
start from a fresh page. Each chapter should be atleast two pages. The report
should be neatly word-processed in A4 Size paper, printed on one side of the sheet
and presented in a Portrait layout (and NOT in Landscape layout). Printouts of
Powerpoint presentations or product documentation (like program code
listing or user manual) are not acceptable as a written report.
12. In addition to the final evaluation done by the Supervisor and Examiner,
the student must be prepared to come to BITS, Pilani on the chosen date
during October-November, 2009 to present and defend the Dissertation
before a panel of independent examiners at BITS, Pilani. The final grade in
Dissertation would be based on the Supervisors evaluation as well as the
independent evaluation by BITS Faculty.
13. During the Viva each student will be required to make a technical presentation for
about 20 minutes using Microsoft PowerPoint. The presentation will be followed by
viva-voce for about 10 minutes. Students doing software development projects
must be prepared to demonstrate their software product during their presentation.
Wherever possible, the students should bring a laptop/ notebook computer with
their presentation and demonstration, if any.
14. The dates for the final viva-voce in person at BITS Pilani will be announced through
the BITS DLP website by the second week of August 2009. Only those students,
whose hard copy outline received by the specified deadline, will be eligible to
choose their dates for the final viva-voce.
15. Most of the Viva dates will be during weekdays (Tuesdays through Thursdays only)
in November 2009. Likely dates for viva in November 2009 are :
3,4,5,10,11,12,17,18,19 November 2009. Students who wish to present their viva
earlier, on a mutually convenient weekday in October 2009 can mail their request
to kvenkat.dlpd@gmail.com specifying the reasons. They can submit the report
earlier. Likely dates for viva in October 2009 are : 6,7,8,13,14,15,20,21, 22 October
2009
16. Students who are unable to travel to Pilani during October-November 2009 due to
genuine exigencies (either located abroad on official work or having a serious
medical condition preventing travel to Pilani) can send an email request to Prof. K.
Venkatasubramanian, Assistant Dean, DLPD at kvenkat.dlpd@gmail.com after
October 24, 2009 for permission to present their viva-voce through web-based
desktop video conferencing (ONLINE VIVA) on a mutually convenient date. All
requests must be supported by hard copies of the relevant official / medical
documents, duly forwarded by the employer, which should be sent alongwith the
Final Report. The dates for ONLINE VIVA will be announced after November 02,
2009.
17. Any student who fails to submit the Outline, Mid-Semester Evaluation or
the Final Report by the stipulated deadline, and/or fails to appear for vivavoce at BITS, Pilani, might be declared as Required to Register Again (RRA)
in Dissertation.
Dean, DLPD

Page 3 of 15

Guidelines for choosing topics for Dissertation

Each student should work independently on a chosen topic. Two or more students
should not do any project jointly. The chosen topic of work should be non-trivial,
analytical, application-oriented and should involve substantial original research and/or
development effort based on a specific theme. Any attempt at plagiarism or use of unfair
means will result in severe disciplinary action.
Students should choose only topics for which the work done can be presented, demonstrated,
and defended before a panel of examiners at BITS, Pilani. Students may note that in cases
where no demonstration is perceived to be possible by the student / employer, due to technical or
professional reasons, a letter on the official letterhead of the employer clearly stating this
infeasibility, duly signed by the Project Manager of the student (or equivalent officer or higher)
and brought by the student at the time of viva-voce at Pilani. However, BITS-Pilani reserves
the right to examine the validity of claims made and insist on a live demonstration in
presence of its nominees.
Mere configuration, installation, testing and routine maintenance, support or
management of systems or equipment will not be considered adequate for a
Dissertation. Trivial, Small projects which are commonly done as assignments in
courses are not acceptable as Dissertation. Mere survey of literature/data collection
would also not be acceptable as a Dissertation.

Work of the organization towards Certification of Quality Management (like ISO, CMM) should
not be included. This will be viewed as organizations effort.
You routine work cannot be submitted as it is.
The work undertaken by you should be clearly visible and should pertain to that work
accomplished during the current semester.
The work should not result in mere compilation of information pertaining to
organization/project handled. It should be adequately described.

For more details on guidelines for topic selection, Click Here (http://discovery.bitspilani.ac.in/dlpd/courses/handouts/dissguide.pdf 19 Pages)
Broad Areas for Dissertation of M.S. (Quality Management)

1.

Environmental Management Systems

2.

Human Resource Management & Organizational Learning

3.

Management Information Systems

4.

Marketing Management

5.

Project Management

6.

Quality Control, Assurance and Reliability

7.

Quality Management Systems

8.

Quality Through Measurement Systems

9.

Statistical Process Control

10.

Statistical Quality Control

11.

Strategic Management

12.

Total Quality Management

Page 4 of 15

Annexure A- Sample Format of Cover Page of the Dissertation

Dissertation Title

QMJ ZG629T: Dissertation

by
Students Name
Id No.

Dissertation work carried out at

Name of the Employing Organization, Location

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

PILANI (RAJASTHAN)
October 2009

Page 5 of 15

Annexure B- Sample Format of Title Page of the Dissertation

Dissertation Title

QMJ ZG629T: Dissertation

by
Students Name
ID No.

Dissertation work carried out at

Name of the Employing Organization, Location

Submitted in partial fulfillment of M.S. Quality Management degree

programme

Under the Supervision of

Name and Designation of Supervisor,
Employing Organization, Location

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

PILANI (RAJASTHAN)
October 2009
Page 6 of 15

Annexure C: Format Certificate from the Supervisor

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Dissertation entitled (Title of the Dissertation)

and submitted by (Name of the student) having ID-No. (BITS Id Number
of the Student) for the partial fulfillment of the requirements of M.S.
Quality Management degree of BITS, embodies the bonafide work done
by him/her under my supervision.

______________________
Signature of the Supervisor

Place : ____________________
Date : ____________________

_____________________________
Name, Designation & Organization &Location

Page 7 of 15

Sequence of items in the Report

The following sequence may be followed in the preparation of the final report:
1. Cover Page (On the hardbound cover)
2. Title Page (Inner Cover Page)
3. Certificate from the Supervisor
4. Abstract
5. Acknowledgements
6. (Detailed) Table of Contents (with page numbers).
7. List of Figures (with figure number, figure titles and page numbers)
8. List of Tables with table number, table title and page number.
9. Chapter 1: Introduction (Page No.1 should start with Chapter 1)
10. Chapter 2, 3, etc.
11. Summary
12. Conclusions and Recommendations (if any)
13. Directions for future work (if any)
14. Bibliography (if any) (Please refer to the sample format given below)
15. References (if any) ((Please refer to the sample format given below)
16. Appendices (if any)
17. Checklist for the items in the report
Note: Please do not include any header or footer in any page of the report. Only page
numbers should be mentioned at the bottom center of each page. For guidelines
regarding preparation of the report, please consult your textbook for Technical Report
Writing / Technical Communication.
Format for giving Bibliography or References
Bibliography or References can be included in the report according to the format given in
the following examples. References should be cited properly inside the text of the report.
1. BOOK
Author. Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year.
One Author Example: Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. New York: Knopf, 1993.
Two or More Authors Example: Rowe, Richard, and Larry Jeffus. The Essential
Welder: Gas Metal Arc Welding Classroom Manual. Albany: Delmar, 2000.
2. SCHOLARLY JOURNAL ARTICLES
Author. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume number (Year): Page(s).
Example: Davis, William D., Thomas Cleary, Michelle Donnelly, and Samuel Hellerman.
"Using Sensor Signals to Analyze Fires." Fire Technology 39 (2003): 295-308.
3. CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Editor names(s). Title of publication/conference. Name of conference. Dates and place of
conference. Place of publication, publisher, and date of publication.
Example: Vivian VL, editor. Child abuse and neglect: a medical community response.
First AMA National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect; 1984 Mar 30-31; Chicago.
Chicago: American Medical Association; 1985.

Page 8 of 15

4. DISSERTATION AND THESES

Author name. Full title of the report. Publication type. Location and name of institution.
Date of publication.
Dissertation Example: Youssef NM. School adjustment of children with congenital
heart disease [Dissertation]. Pittsburgh (PA): University of Pittsburgh; 1988.
Thesis Example: Devins GM. Helplessness, depression, and mood in end-stage renal
disease [masters thesis]. Montreal, Quebec: McGill University;1981.

5. A Private Communication
Wonham W.m. (1982) Private Communication.

6. Format for Citation of References within the Report

Example of citing a journal paper listed in references, inside the text of the report:
.. These results have been presented by Kalman and Pucy [2] .

Page 9 of 15

Annexure D : Sample Format & Template of Abstract

Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Work-Integrated Learning Programmes Division
First Semester 2009-2010
QMJ ZG629T : Dissertation

BITS ID No.

: ____________________________________

NAME OF THE STUDENT

: ____________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS

: ____________________________________

STUDENTS EMPLOYING
ORGANIZATION & LOCATION

: ____________________________________

SUPERVISORS NAME

: ____________________________________

SUPERVISORS EMPLOYING
ORGANIZATION & LOCATION

: ____________________________________

SUPERVISORS EMAIL ADDRESS: ____________________________________

DISSERTATION TITLE

:_____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT : (Should be neatly word processed; should not exceed one page)
Broad Academic Area of Work: (Specify one from the area listed in the guidelines)
Key words (Specify the technical keywords of the Project in alphabetical order)

____________________
Signature of the Student

______________________
Signature of the Supervisor

Name: ______________
Name: ________________
Date:
Date:
Place:

Place:

Note: Attach a separate document including the details in the format given above.
Page 10 of 15

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI

WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAMMES DIVISION
First Semester 2009-2010
Fax No. 01596-244183
QMJ ZG629T: Dissertation EC-1: Dissertation Outline Evaluation Sheet
Signed hard copy of this document must reach Pilani by June 20, 2009
Softcopy to be uploaded Online on BITS VU during August 03-10, 2009
ID No.

: ____________________________________

NAME OF THE STUDENT

: ____________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS

: ____________________________________

STUDENTS EMPLOYING
ORGANIZATION & LOCATION

: ____________________________________

SUPERVISORS NAME

: ____________________________________

SUPERVISORS EMPLOYING
ORGANIZATION & LOCATION

: ____________________________________

PROPOSED DISSERTATION TITLE: ___________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Student must enclose the Dissertation Outline document in proper format (as given on the next
page) containing details of proposed topic of Dissertation Work, background, scope of work,
objectives, plan of work, literature references and particulars of the Supervisor as well as one
additional examiner in terms of Name, Designation, Qualification and contact information. The
students Mentor should either be the Supervisor or the Additional Examiner. The Supervisor and
Additional Examiner should verify and sign at the end of the Dissertation Outline document.
DISSERTATION OUTLINE EVALUATION

(Please put a tick (a ) mark in the appropriate box)

EC No.
1.

Component
Dissertation Outline

Excellent

Supervisor

Good

Fair

Poor

Additional Examiner

Name
Qualification
Designation
Employing Orgn
and Location
Phone No.
(with STD Code)
Email Address
Signature

Date
Page 11 of 15

Format of outline

Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani

Work-Integrated Learning Programmes Division
First Semester 2009-2010
QMJ ZG629T: Dissertation Outline

ID No.

: ____________________________________

NAME OF THE STUDENT

: ____________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS

: ____________________________________

STUDENTS EMPLOYING
ORGANIZATION & LOCATION

: ____________________________________

SUPERVISORS NAME

: ____________________________________

SUPERVISORS EMPLOYING
ORGANIZATION & LOCATION

: ____________________________________

SUPERVISORS EMAIL ADDRESS : ____________________________________

DISSERTATION TITLE

: ____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Please prepare the outline as a separate document with the following sections
alongwith the above identification information.
1. Cover Page with ID No., Name, Course Number,
Dissertation Title, Broad Academic Area of Work:

Course

Title

and

2. Background (Relevance of the project to the current work environment in

the employing organization)

3. Objectives
4. Scope of Work (to be done by the student independently)
5. Plan of Work (Work to be done during the semester)
6. Literature References
7. Particulars of the Supervisor and Examiner

Signature of Student
Date:
Place:

Page 12 of 15

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI

WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAMMES DIVISION
First Semester 2009-2010
Fax No. 01596-244183
QMJ ZG629T: Dissertation Mid-Semester Progress Evaluation Sheet

Signed hard copy to reach Pilani by August 28, 2009.

No softcopy is required to be uploaded.
ID No.

: ________________________________________

NAME OF THE STUDENT

: ________________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS

: ________________________________________

SUPERVISORS NAME

: ________________________________________

DISSERTATION TITLE

: ________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Details of work done till date
(with reference to Outline)

: Attach a separate word processed document,

giving brief details of work done.

Plan of work yet to be done

: Attach a separate word processed document,

specifying the milestones & deliverables.

EVALUATION

DISSERTATION PROGRESS EVALUATION (Please put a tick (

EC No.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Component
Dissertation Outline
Work Progress & Achievements
Initiative and Originality
Documentation & Expression

Excellent

Supervisor

Good

) mark in the appropriate box)

Fair

Additional Examiner

Name
Qualification
Designation
Employing Orgn
and Location
Phone No.
(with STD Code)
Email Address
Signature

Date

Page 13 of 15

Poor

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI

WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAMMES DIVISION
First Semester 2009-2010
Fax No. : 01596- 244183
QMJ ZG629T: Dissertation EC-3 Final Evaluation Sheet
Signed Hard copy Scheduled Date to reach Pilani: October 23, 2009
Softcopy of Final Report & Presentation (in pdf format) to be uploaded by October 23, 2009

ID No.

: ______________________________________

NAME OF THE STUDENT

: ______________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS

: ______________________________________

NAME OF THE SUPERVISOR

: ______________________________________

DISSERTATION TITLE

: ______________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
Dissertation Final Evaluation (Please put a tick (a ) mark in the appropriate box)
S No.
1.
2.
S.No.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Evaluation Component
Final Dissertation Report
Final Seminar and Viva-Voce
Evaluation Criteria
Technical/Professional Competence
Work Progress and Achievements
Documentation and expression
Initiative and Originality
Research & Innovation
Relevance to the work environment

Excellent

Excellent

Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Fair

Poor

Please ENCIRCLE the Recommended Final Grade: Excellent / Good / Fair / Poor

Remarks of the Supervisor:

Supervisor

Additional Examiner

Name
Qualification
Designation
Employing
Organization &
Location
Phone Number
Mobile Number
Email Address
Signature
Place & Date
Page 14 of 15

Checklist of items for the Final Dissertation Report

This checklist is to be attached as the last page of the report.
This checklist is to be duly completed, verified and signed by the student.
1.
Is the final report properly hard bound? (Spiral bound or Soft

Yes / No

bound or Perfect bound reports are not acceptable.)

2.

Is the Cover page in proper format as given in Annexure A?

Yes / No

3.

Is the Title page (Inner cover page) in proper format?

Yes / No

4.

(a) Is the Certificate from the Supervisor in proper format?

Yes / No

(b) Has it been signed by the Supervisor?

Yes / No

Is the Abstract included in the report properly written within one page?

Yes / No

5.

Have the technical keywords been specified properly?

6.

Is the title of your report appropriate? The title should be adequately

Yes / No
Yes / No

descriptive, precise and must reflect scope of the actual work done.
7.

Have you included the List of abbreviations / Acronyms?

Yes / No

Uncommon abbreviations / Acronyms should not be used in the title.

8.

Does the Report contain a summary of the literature survey?

9.

Does the Table of Contents include page numbers?

(i).

Are the Pages numbered properly? (Ch. 1 should start on Page # 1)

(ii).

Are the Figures numbered properly? (Figure Numbers and Figure

Titles should be at the bottom of the figures)

(iii).

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Are the Tables numbered properly? (Table Numbers and Table Titles
should be at the top of the tables)

Yes / No

(iv).

Are the Captions for the Figures and Tables proper?

Yes / No

(v).

Are the Appendices numbered properly? Are their titles appropriate

Yes / No

10.

Is the conclusion of the Report based on discussion of the work?

Yes / No

11.

Are References or Bibliography given at the end of the Report?

Yes / No

Have the References been cited properly inside the text of the Report?

Yes / No

Is the citation of References in proper format?

12.

Is the report format and content according to the guidelines? The report

Yes / No
Yes / No

should not be a mere printout of a Power Point Presentation, or a user

manual. Source code of software need not be included in the report.

Note: Softcopy of Final Report and Copy of Final Presentation (in PDF Format) to
be uploaded on BITS VU by October 28, 2009. No CD is to be enclosed in
the report.
Declaration by Student:
I certify that I have properly verified all the items in this checklist and ensure that the
report is in proper format as specified in the course handout.

Place: ________________________

________________________________
Signature of the Student

Date: _________________________

Name: ___________________________
ID No.: ___________________________

Page 15 of 15